Container carrier and display means



June 9, 1942,. EURNET CONTAINER CARRIER AND DISPLAY MEANS INVENTOR. diiepl filrflwlj ATTORNEY.

June 9, 1942. J. H. BURNET CONTAINER CARRIER AND DISPLAY MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 15 Filed Mwh 4, I i I l I I INVENTOR. Jake v72 Hzrr/z e3:

ATTORNEY.

June 1942.

J. H. BURNET CONTAINER CARRIER AND DISPLAY MEANS Filed March 4, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

Patented June 9, 1942 FERN? GFEICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to carriers for cans and like containers, and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of carrier for transporting a plurality of cans or the like.

This invention has for an object to provide a novel construction of carrier around the exterior of which a plurality of cans to be carried may be grouped and supportingly engaged or gripped by the carrier at inner side portions thereof in such manner that labels, advertising matter Or the like on the exterior of the cans are exposed to view while the carrier itself is substantially concealed, and consequently, not only are the cans efficiently supported for transportation, but the same are so exposed that identity and advertising of the product packed therein by the external labels and dress of the cans is well displayed and suffers n0 concealment by the carrier means per se.

This invention has for a further object to provide a novel construction of carrier, for the purposes stated, which is adapted to be formed from flat sheet stock, such as a sheet metal stamping,

which may be folded or rolled transversely upon itself and secured to provide a body of cylindriform shape, said body having means at its respective ends to supportingly engage and grip the upper and lower rims of the cans to be carried; the upper gripping means novel form and being disposed in such novel relation to the body as to also provide the handle means of the carrier.

This invention has for another object to provide, in a carrier of the kind mentioned, novel can gripping means including a fixed bottom can rim engaging means and a movable top can rim engaging means; the latter comprising carrier handle loop means having a fulcrumed free end portion terminating in a rim gripping jaw, said free end portion having a lever-like action, when the carrier is lifted by the handle loop means, which strongly thrusts said jaw downwardly into engagement with the can top rim, and in such manner as to cooperate with the fixed bottom can rim engaging means in exerting a tongslike gripping of a can body between said top and bottom engaging means. Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

Illustrative embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a plurality being of such of cans operatively assembled with a carrier means according to this invention for transportation thereby; Fig. 2 is a top end View of the same; Fig. 3 is a bottom end view of the same; and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View of the same, taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the blank from which a carrier means, such as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive is produced.

Fig. 6 is a top end view of a plurality of cans operatively assembled with a somewhat modified form of the carrier means according to this invention; and Fig. '7 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of another modification of the carrier.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

The novel carrier of this invention, in one form thereof as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, is produced from a sheet metal blank A, such as shown in Fig. 5. The blank A is of rectangular shape, of suitable width, and of a height adapted to suitably conform to the requirements of the cans desired to be served by the carrier formed from the blank. The Width of the blank will be so predetermined that, when the blank is rolled transversely upon itself into cylindriform shape, the resulting carrier body will be properly sized to accommodate the grouping of a desired number of cans to be carried around the same in laterally abutting relation. In the illustrative carrier shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the body thereof is so devised as to accommodate four cans, but it will be obvious that the carrier body may be made to accommodate more or less than such number of cans.- The blank A is provided along its bottom margin with spaced projecting tongues B, corresponding in number to the number of cans to be accommodated by the carrier, said tongues providing the elements from which can bottom rim engaging means of the carrier are formed. Struck from the blank A in alignment with and corresponding in number to the tongues B are a plurality of downwardly extending tapered strips 0 having free ends D, the same providing elements from which the combined handle loop and can top rim engaging means of the carrier are formed. The longitudinal side marginal portions of the blank A are doubled back upon themselves to provide cooperative interengageable hook-like coupling lips E and F for securing the blank in cylindriform carrier body shape.

In forming the carrier from the above described blank, the blank is folded or rolled transversely upon itself to provide a carrier body ID of cylindriform shape, the same being retained in such shape by interengaging or hooking, one into the other, the coupling lips E and F. The tongues B are bent outwardly from the lower end of the carrier body ID to project therefrom, and thus provide can bottom supporting and engaging elements II, the free end portions of which are upturned to provide can rim engaging or gripper lips l2. The tapered strips 0, which are integral with and spring from the upper end portion of the carrier body [0, are outwardly and upwardly and then inwardly and downwardly turned to form loop members [3 projecting upwardly from the upper end of the carrier body iii. Said loop members each terminate at their inner sides in a free end portion, hereinafter referred to as the lever portion hi, which is threaded or passed through the opening !5 in the body wall that is left by the displacement of the given strip C, so that the free terminal end of said lever portion I4 projects exteriorly of the wall of the carrier body I 9. The tip of each lever portion I4 is downturned to provide a can rim engaging or gripper lip l6.

In assembling cans with the carrier for transport thereby, the cans 26 are grouped in laterally abutting relation around the carrier body iii, and in such manner that each can. bottom rim 2! rests upon a bottom supporting element Ii, the gripper lip 52 of which hooks behind the inner side of said rim 2i, whereby the lower end of the can 253 is both supported and held against displacement from the carrier body. fhe outwardly projecting free end parts of the lever portions it extend over the can top rims in such manner that said can rims are gripped thereby with the gripper lips l8 hooked behind the inner side thereof, whereby the upper ends of the cans are held against displacement from the carrier body. The relation of the lever portion iii to the butt ends ll of the loop members it is such that the former are fulcrnmed on the latter, so that the natural spring or tension of the loop members tends to rock the lever portions id about their fulcrum points so as to swing downward the tips thereof and the gripper lips if; tensionally against the can top rims 22. When transporting the assembled cans by the carrier, the user inserts fingers through the loop mem-- bers l3, and lifts and carries the assembly thereby. Under these circumstances the weight of the assembly so stresses the loop members as to further increase the leverage action and bearing of the lever portions it upon the can top rims, whereby the cans are gripped endwise between the bottom and top rim engaging elements with a tongs-like effect, the gripping pressure of which is thus enhanced by the weight of the assembly. It will therefore be apparent that the heavier the cans the stronger will be the tongslike grip exerted thereupon by the engagingparts of the carrier, and consequently the can assembly is assured of being safely transported with out risk of displacement of the cans from the carrier. Since the cans abut one another lat orally, no possibility of sidewise displacement of the cans relative to the carrier wall occurs.

It will thus be obvious that a very simple and yet effective can engaging and carrying is provided; the same being of such novel form, and being related to the carried cans in such novel manner, that the exposed exterior surfaces of the cans are not hidden, and consequently labels and advertising matter provided thereon is advantageously displayed to View.

It may be desired to provide the carrier in a form suitable for carrying one or two or more cans in laterally spaced non-abutting relation, as, for example, in the manner shown in Fig. 6. In such case, the carrier body l0 may be modified in cross sectional shape so as to provide laterally spaced abutments 31) to brace the assembled can or cans against lateral displacement relative to the carrier body I when gripped by the top and bottom rim engaging elements. In Fig. 7 is shown another modified arrangement suitable for this purpose, wherein the spaced abutments adapted to engage the can sides comprise abutment lugs 3i struck out of the carrier body it] to radially project therefrom, and between which a can to be carried is disposed, subject to engagement by the top and bottom rim engaging or gripping elements of the carrier.

The carrier device may be knocked down into a substantially flat shape for storage, shipment, etc., by disengaging the coupling lips E and F, and unfolding the body IE] to flat condition, with the strips C straightened out and laid in the plane of the body I0.

I am aware that various changes could be made in the constructions above described and shown in the accompanying drawings, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof. It is therefore intended that all matter shown in the accompanying drawings or contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A carrier for cans which have projecting top and bottom rims comprising, a body formed from sheet material against which the side of a can to be carried may abut, said body having at its lower part can bottom rim engaging means, and said body having at its upper part a convolute loop element having a free end portion to project through and exteriorly of the body, said free end portion terminating in can top rim engaging means, said loop element serving as the handle means of the carrier.

2. A carrier for cans which have projecting top and bottom rims comprising, a body formed from sheet material into cylindriform shape around which cans to be carried are grouped, said body having at its lower part can bottom rim engaging means, and said body having at its upper part convolute loop elements struck out of the body material to extend outwardly and upwardly and then inwardly and downwardly to terminate in lever portions adapted to project exteriorly through said body wall so as to be fulcrumed on the butt portions of the loop elements, said lever portions terminating in can top rim engaging means, and said loop elements serving as the handle means of the carrier.

3. In a carrier for cans which have projecting top and bottom rims, a body formed from sheet material, said body having at its lower end an outwardly projecting means terminating in a gripper lip adapted to supportingly embrace a can bottom rim, said body having a strip struck therefrom which extends lengthwise of the body from an anchor point adjacent the upper end thereof to terminate in a free end, said strip top and bottom rims, a body being in alignment with said can bottom rim supporting means, said strip being formed into a convolute loop element extending outwardly and upwardly and then inwardly and downwardly to terminate in a lever portion adapted to project exteriorly through the body wall opening left by displacement of said strip and so as to be fulcrumed on the butt portion of said loop element, said lever portion terminating in means including a gripper lip adapted to embracingly engage and thrust against the can top rim, and said loop element serving as a carrier handle means. i

4. In a carrier for cans which have projecting formed from sheet material, said body having at its lower end an outwardly projecting means terminating in a gripper lip adapted to supportingly embrace a can bottom rim, said body having a strip struck therefrom which extends lengthwise of the body from an anchor point adjacent the upper end thereof to terminate in a free end, said strip being in alignment with said can bottom rim supporting means, said strip being formed into a convolute loop element extending outwardly and upwardly and then inwardly and downwardly to terminate in a lever portion adapted to project exteriorly through the body wall opening left by displacement of said strip and so as to be fulcrumed on the butt portion of said loop element, said lever portion terminating in means including a gripper lip adapted to embracingly engage loop element serving as a carrier handle means, and said body having outwardly projecting laterally spaced abutments to support a can against sidewise displacement when gripped by the top and bottom rim engaging means. a

5. A carrier for cans which have projecting top and bottom rims comprising, a body formed from sheet material into cylindriform shape around which cans to be carried are grouped, said body having at its lower end spaced radially projecting supporting tongues terminating in gripper lip portions adapted to supportingly embrace the bottom rims of cans applied thereto, said body having strips struck therefrom to extend lengthwise thereof from anchor points adjacent the and thrust against the can top rim, said upper end of the body and respectively in alignment with the respective can bottom rim supporting means, said strips terminating in free ends, each strip being formed into a convolute loop element extending outwardly and upwardly and then inwardly and downwardly relative to the upper end of the body and so as to terminate in lever portions adapted to project exteriorly through a body wall opening left by displacement of the strip, said lever portions being fulcrumed on the butt portions of loop elements from which they extend, and said lever portions terminating in means including gripper lips adapted to embracingly engage and thrust against the top rims of cans applied to the body, said loop elements serving as the handle means of the carrier.

6. A carrier for cans which have projecting top and bottom rims comprising, a body formed from sheet material into cylindriform shape around which cans to be carried are grouped, said body having at its lower end spaced radially projecting supporting tongues terminating in gripper lip portions adapted to supportingly embrace the bottom rims of cans applied thereto, said body having strips struck therefrom to extend lengthwise thereof from anchor points adjacent the upper end of the body and respectively in alignment with the respective can bottom rim supporting means, said strips terminating in free ends, each strip being formed into a convolute loop element extending outwardly and upwardly and then inwardly and downwardly relative to the upper end of the body and so as to terminate in lever portions adaptedto project exteriorly through a body Wall opening left by displacement of the strip, said lever portions being fulcrumed on the butt portions of loop elements from which they extend, said lever portions terminating in means including gripper lips adapted to embra-cingly engage and thrust against the top rims of cans applied to the body, said loop elements serving as the handle means of the carrier, and said body having outwardly projecting laterally spaced abutments to support applied cans against sidewise displacement when gripped by top and bottom rim engaging means.

JOSEPH H. BURNE-T. 

